Despite the lobbying from the University of Florida’s Student Government, Gainesville city commissioners aren’t budging on the 2-year-old underage prohibition ordinance, which punishes bars and restaurants where too many underage drinking violations take place.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting today, student body President Ashton Charles advocated for pushing that time back to 11 p.m. after a few main student haunts, most notably The Swamp Restaurant, were found in violation of the ordinance last year and forced to close to anyone under 21 at 9 p.m. for three months.

“I don’t have time to eat until late at night,” Charles said, adding that many students — many of whom are under 21 — find themselves in a similar predicament.

The committee — made up of Jeanna Mastrodicasa, the chairwoman; Lauren Poe; and Warren Nielsen — wasn’t impressed with the argument. Gainesville Police Capt. Ed Book said the rule was put in place to punish bars and make it worth their while not to end up on probation again, noting that it withstood a legal challenge.

In 2009, the ordinance was challenged in court by Rob Zeller, the owner of the Grog House, Copper Monkey and a number of other bars and a candidate for the District 3 City Commission seat. A circuit judge upheld the law, Zeller appealed, and a state appeals court also upheld it.

In fact, Mastrodicasa, who is an assistant vice president of student affairs at UF, wants to tack on another punishment for establishments that run afoul of the law: taking away their ability to receive special-event permits for beer tents during, say, football games.

Charles, though, said much less drinking happens until after 11 p.m.

Poe asked if any underage drinking incidents had taken place before 11. She said she wasn’t sure but thought it wasn’t as much of a problem until later.

“We’re not interested in not as much,” Poe said. “We’re interested in not at all.”

About This Blog

County Lines and City Limits follows Gainesville and Alachua County politics and government from City Hall to the statehouse.

Morgan Watkins, a University of Florida grad, joined the Sun in August 2012 as its county government reporter. She keeps you updated on what’s happening inside county meetings and outside in local neighborhoods. If you think something might make a good story, let her know at morgan.watkins@gvillesun.com.